What we need to install Ubuntu to a USB drive is a computer, an Ubuntu live CD/USB, and a USB drive. 8 GB is the minimum recommended size for a functional and useable system (although 4 GB is the minimum). We recommend an external hard disk and at least 20 GB. Select 'Try Ubuntu' from the startup screen to run Ubuntu from the pen drive without installing it. To install Ubuntu, select 'Install Ubuntu.' There is a performance penalty for running Ubuntu from the USB drive instead of installing it on the hard drive. Installing Ubuntu 8.10 On Your USB Flash Drive This guide shows how you can install Ubuntu 8.10 on a USB flash drive. Ubuntu 8.10 comes with a too. After USB flash drive is unmounted we can start the process of creating bootable USB drive. We are going to use dd command to do the desired. But dd is a dangerous tool because it does what you tell it to do without questions.
A bootable USB drive is the best way to install or try Linux. But most Linux distributions—like Ubuntu—only offer an ISO disc image file for download. You’ll need a third-party tool to turn that ISO file into a bootable USB drive. To be able to install Ubuntu or any other Linux OS or even any other OS like Windows etc, we either need a bootable FlashDrive or a DVD of the OS. In this tutorial, we will discuss how we can create bootable Linux Flash Drive using a Ubuntu System.
How can I make a persistent install of Lubuntu on my flash drive, so I can boot from my flash drive and save changes and files?
2 Answers
Running from USB is well supported by the standard Ubuntu setup, and there are a number of tutorials out there including this one.
In case that link vanishes, the procedure is as follows:
- Download and burn to CD the right Ubuntu ISO
- Boot from that CD
- Plug in the target USB drive
- Run the startup disk creator (found under system/administration in the menus
- Select the target drive and CD if they are not correctly selected automatically and choose how much space to reserve for changes
- Click 'make startup disk' and wait for it to finish
- Shutdown Ubuntu and reboot from the newly populated USB drive, and give it a test
Installed to a USB drive that way, anything you save goes into the block of space reserved for such changes - this includes saving documents, installing new programs & updating existing ones, and changing settings - so the changes are available next time you boot using that USB drive. Not changes will be made to your existing drives unless you explicitly mount them using the new installation.
This should work equally well whether you are using a flash-based USB stick or an external drive connected via USB as long as your machine supports booting from such media.
I use this approach. It is quite useful, particularly when moving between different version of linux.
I have three usb hard drives, mainly for data storage, but I also use them for linux. I reserve about 50GB at the front of each drive. 45GB for the install and 5GB for the swap.
The Ubuntu installation to external drive since 9.04 has become simple. The only thing you have to be careful with is where linux puts GRUB. You'll want it on the external drive.
To make sure this happens, you have to select that drive in the last step of the pre-install questions. On this last screen there is an advanced button, click it and select the external drive from the list.
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A bootable USB drive is the best way to install or try Linux. But most Linux distributions—like Ubuntu—only offer an ISO disc image file for download. You’ll need a third-party tool to turn that ISO file into a bootable USB drive.
You’ll need to download an ISO file to do this—we’re going to use Ubuntu in our example, but this should work for quite a few different Linux distributions. Head to Ubuntu’s download page and download the version of Ubuntu you want—either the stable “Long Term Service” release or the current release. If you’re not sure which one to download, we recommend the LTS release.
Below, we’ll show you how to turn this ISO into a bootable flash drive on both Windows or an existing Linux system.
RELATED:How to Create a Live Ubuntu USB Drive With Persistent Storage
NOTE: This process creates a traditional live USB drive. When you run it, none of your chances (like installed programs or created files) will be saved for the next time you run it. For installing Linux to your PC, this is fine—but if you want a live USB that keeps your changes so you can use it regularly on different computers, you’ll want to check out these instructions instead.
How to Create a Bootable USB Drive on Windows
There are many tools that can do this job for you, but we recommend a free program called Rufus—it’s faster and more reliable than many of the other tools you’ll see recommended, including UNetbootin.
Download Rufus and run it on your Windows PC. The tool will open immediately—you don’t even have to install it.
Connect a USB drive with at least 2GB of free space to your Windows PC (this may vary depending on your distribution of choice). The contents of this drive will be erased, so back up any important files on the drive first. Click the “Device” box in Rufus and ensure your connected drive is selected.
If the “Create a bootable disk using” option is grayed out, click the “File System” box and select “FAT32”.
Activate the “Create a bootable disk using” checkbox, click the button to the right of it, and select your downloaded ISO file.
Once you’ve selected the correct options, click the “Start” button to begin creating the bootable drive.
You may be told you need newer SysLinux files. Just click the “Yes” button and Rufus will automatically download them for you.
Rufus will ask how you want to write the image. Just select the default option—“Write in ISO Image Mode (Recommended)”—and click “OK”.
You’ll be warned that all data on the USB drive will be erased. Click “OK” to continue if the drive has no important data on it. (If you forgot to back up your data, click “Cancel”, back up the data on the USB drive, and then run Rufus again.)
RELATED:How to Boot Your Computer From a Disc or USB Drive
Rufus will create the bootable USB drive. You can click “Close” to close Rufus when it’s done.
Next, restart your computer and boot from the USB drive using these instructions. You can also take it to another computer and boot Ubuntu from the USB drive on that computer.
How to Create a Bootable USB Drive on Ubuntu
If you’re already using Ubuntu, you don’t need to do this from Windows. Just open the Dash and search for the “Startup Disk Creator” application, which is included with Ubuntu.
Install Ubuntu On Pen Drive From Windows
Provide a downloaded Ubuntu ISO file, connect a USB drive, and the tool will create a bootable Ubuntu USB drive for you.
Can You Install Ubuntu On Flash Drive
Many other distributions have their own similar tools built-in, so you’ll have to check and see what your particular distribution has available.
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